Galapagos Islands: Key Environmental Issues

Report prepared by Meaghan Leslie-Gottschligg and Scott Grimsrud, students in BCIT's Fish, Wildlife and Recreation Program.

The Galapagos Islands face three key environmental issues:

The control of introduced species including: goats, pigs, cats and dogs, rats (black and Norwegian), wasps and plants. Wild dogs and cats prey on iguanas and sea bird chicks, and rats and pigs eat the eggs of tortoises, turtles and sea birds. Some introduced plant species are seriously threatening the survival of native species. The threat of introduced species has increased with more visitors and the growing population of the island.

Over-exploitation of natural resources.

Management of the human population. The Galapagos National park restricts the number of tourists visiting the island and in many areas tourists are restricted to paths laid out by the World Wildlife Fund, and must be accompanied by a naturalist-guide to view the surrounding wildlife.